Road engaging means for automobiles or the like



A. J. CAWLEY ROAD ENGAGING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES, 0R THE LIKE June 12, 1945.

Filed Dec. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet `4.'I.

2 .wf f

June 12,1945. A 1 CAWLEY 2,377,923

ROAD ENGAGING MEANS FOR AUTOMGBILES, OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 12., 1945. A J, CAWLEY 2,377,923

ROAD ENGAGING MEANS FOKUTGMQQILES, on THE LIKE Filed nec. 22A; 193s 4 sheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR.

A. J.l CAWLEY` Filed Dec. 22, 1938 4 shams-sheet 4- "Sme/1MM Patented June 12, 1945 f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROAD ENGAGING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES OR THE LIKE 28 Claims.

The invention aims to do away with all of the objectionable features of the present day tire chains, which constitute the present day auxiliary road engaging means, in that the road engaging means may be applied or removed in a fraction of a second while the car is in full motion by utilizing the `energyof the motor which operates the car. f

The invention relates generally to means applied to automobiles or the like, whereby the surface of the tires or wheels which engage with' the road may have auxiliary road engaging means brought into cooperative relation therewith, in order to enable the tires to engage with any type of road and thus eliminate, or greatly reduce slipping of the tires on` the road surface. By means of the invention, any type of road engaging means may be applied or removed while the car is moving at full speed without the necessity of the driver leaving the car.

Any type of road engaging means may be applied even though the car is stalled with its wheels rotating in ineiective road engagement and consequent slippage. The mere manipulation of a lever at the drivers seat causes the road engaging means best suited to the particular type of road to come into effective road engagement and the car moves readily forward.

Other objects of the invention areas follows:

To provide a road engaging apparatus which may be applied to a standard, present-day automobile by a simple machining operation on the brake drum in order to prepare it for attachment thereto.

To provide an auxiliary road engaging means which may be applied by means of friction shoes borne on the stationary backing plate.

The provision of chains which actually encircle A modification in which the energy of the motor is not utilized to apply the auxiliary road engaging means, and in which a wrench may be applied the tire as in the ordinary tire chains; those chains may be brought into road engagement in a fraction of a second while the car is in full motion.

A tire whose tread is provided with a series of grooves in which the chains travel, and prevent them from being worn when they are in the off position.

Means for releasing the road engaging means from road engagement consisting of a friction ring and vmeans for bringing friction shoes in contact with this ring.

An auxiliary road engaging means in which a hollow wheel is rotatably mounted on the brake drum and a friction band is applied around this wheel in order to retard its rotation when the car moves.

and the road engaging means brought into road engagement manually.

Another modification in which an auxiliary tire whose tread surface is provided with road engaging elements, and which is partially deflated when not in road engagement, and which is brought into road engagement by inflation.

Means for maintaining the regular tire at full inflation automatically while the car is in motion, the decrease in pressure of the airpressure in the tire acting to bring a tire ination element into operation.

A road engaging means that is attached to the brake drum and the pressure of the road surface against the auxiliary road engaging means is distributed around the entire periphery of the wheel and road engaging means.

An auxiliary road engaging means and associated wheel whichk act to reinforce each other, as they are in intimate contact throughout their perpheries.

Different types of road engaging elements are succesively applied tothe road surface, and thus ideal engagement is insured with any type of road.

An auxiliary road engaging means that may be applied by passing a wrench through an opening in the wheel while the car is standing, and engaging this wrench with the squared end of a shaft. The wrench, or crank, is then rotated, and the `road engaging elements are thereby brought into any desired degree of road engagement, and held there by means of the pawls 1.

Those objects are attained by the mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view of one modiflcation of the road engaging means applied to an automobile wheel.

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure l partly in cross-section. v

Figure 3 is a plan view of the road engaging surface.

Figure 4 is an elvational View of another modification of the road engaging means.

`Figure 4a is a plan view of the road engaging surface of the modification illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 4b is a cross sectional view of Figure 4a.

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4 partly in cross-section.

of the means shown in Figure 4 and is partly in cross section.

Figure 6 is an elavational view of another modication of the invention applied to an automobile Wheel.

Figure rl is a side view of Figure 6 and is partly in cross section.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of one modification of the road engaging means illustrating the side of the apparatus adjacent the wheel.

Figure 8a illustrates another modification of the invention being an elevational view of means for removing the road engagement means from engagement.

Figure 8b is a side view of Figure 8a partly in cross-section.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of another modication of the invention.`

Figure 10 is a side view of Figure 9, partly in cross section.

Figure 11 is an elevational view of another modification of the invention.

Figure 12 is a side View of Figure l1 partly in cross section.

Figure 13 is an elevational View of an automobile to which the invention may readily be applied.

Figure 14 is an elevational view of still another modification of the invention employing pneumatic means.

Figure 15 is a side view of Figure 14 partly in cross-section.

Figure 1 illustrates an ordinary automobile wheel, R being its rim and T its tire. The surface of the wheel adjacent the car body is` shown in this figure. Figure 2 is a View partly in cross section of Figure 1. Referring to those gures, S represents the shaft while H is the torque tube. The brake drum D is mounted upon the shaft S in the conventional manner. The wheel. body W is fastened to the brake drum by the bolts 1c. P is the backing plate, which is mounted in the regular manner upon the torque tube H. The regulation brake shoes which make frictional contact with the internal surface of the brake drum D are not illustrated, as they would add nothing to the disclosure. Space is left to amply accommodate them, however, as shown in the drawings.

The auxiliary road engaging means about to be described is demountable, just as the wheels are. In order to apply the auxiliary road engaging means to an ordinary wheel, the wheel W is removed by loosening the bolts k and slipping oi the wheel. An additional seat is machined on the surface of the brake drum D to accommodate the cup-like member C. Holes are bored in member C and drum D to accommodate the bolts 7'. The auxiliary road engaging means is then attached by passing the hole in the center of the cup like member C over the projection on the drum, and secured to its seat by means of the bolts 7', as better illustrated in Figure 8. The auxiliary road engaging means includes a supporting frame which consists of the cup like portion C, which is provided with radial members I, four being shown, but any number desired may be used. Therefore, C and I act as a supporting frame for the auxiliary road engaging means. The radial members I are provided with guides Gr. It will be noted that the cup C fits snugly into the hollow of the wheel W, cushioned if desired, by the rubber pads nI. The radial members I may also fit snugly against the tire T. This arrangement causes the pressure of the road surface to be equally distributed over'the wheel, giving great strength and yet suillcient resilience. Sliding on the arms I are the quadrants 2, each provided with slots a, through which project the guides G, formed in arms I, permitting a sliding motion of the quadrants. The quadrants 2 arev provided with flanges F bearing any suitable road engaging means, which may consist of the usual steel tungstate teeth, so-called rubber chains, etc., some of which are further illustrated and described in this specification. The movable members, or quadrants, 2, are shown in Figure 1 as being equipped with steel teeth which project through a curved plate Fa, the teeth being shown at Ia. Springs 8a resiliently support Fa. Rubber pads cI are mounted upon support Fa. As the quadrants 2 move radially, the rubber pads cI lrst come into engagement with the road surface and exert moderate pressure, for instance on a Wet or slippery concrete pavement. If the latter is coated with a sheet of ice, further outward motion of the quadrants 2 cause the teeth Ia to penetrate the ice and obtain rm engagement. If the road is coated with soft dirt, mud, or snow, further outward or radial travel of quadrants 2 cause the teeth Ia to penetrate very deeply, almost to any desired depth.

Each quadrant 2 is provided with a lug p, which projects outward. Over the four quadrants is placed the ring 3, which is provided with radial slots a, through which pass the lugs p. The ring, or annular member 3 acts to support and guide the quadrants 2, and yet permit. their ready sliding to and fro; it also acts to support the anges F, and most important of all, to distribute the pressure of the road surface equally all over the auxiliary road engaging means and its companion wheel and tire. The guides G, formed on arms I. are secured in any desired manner, as by means of Cotter pins Z, to hold the annular member 3 firmly in place, yet permitting the movable members 2 to slide readily to and fro.

It is important to point out that the curvature of the ground gripping element, such as CI, or c of Figure 3, should be the same as that of the road engaging surface of the tire T, so that all portions will come into uniform road engagement as the wheel rotates. This means that the quadrants are really quadrants of the circle represented by the periphery of the tire surface.

A bar 6, provided on one side with gear teeth constituting a rack and on the other side with ratchet teeth constituting the ratchet Q, is laid over the annular member 3, and is provided with a slot in which the plug p is fastened by means of a screw or the like, as shown in the upper portion of Figure 1. This bar 6 also is attached to the flange F by means of a screw, or the like s, so that the quadrants 2 are rigidly held in position,

` yet may slide very readily peripherally. Wheels e, f, and y of which there are four sets, of different diameters, are shown in engagement with each other. The larger of this train of wheels y is in engagement with rack on bar 6. By making this wheel of larger diameter than the others, the latter do not engage with the gear teeth on bar 6. However, the same result could be accomplished by making the wheels of the same diameter and inclining the axis of the gear train at an angle to the axis of bar 6 so that but one wheel, g, would be in engagement therewith. Also, by using three wheels instead of one, engagement of wheel g with the rack teeth on 6 is at a point considerably distant from the end of the bar 6. This permits the bar 6 to come almost in contact with wheel 4 in the off-position of the road engaging means and. also allowing a considerable distance of traveli of the bar 6 affording 'a greater penetrationof the roadtengaging means in snow and dirt and also affording a greater removal of the teeth or other road engaging element from the surface ofthe road when not in use. `The wheels e, f and g are `journalled inthe annular member 3. The pawl 1 -is fastened by means of `the pivot upon the annular member 3. Large gear wheel 4 is placed in engagement with -the four wheels e and needs no further radial support. However, it is shownas supported further by means of the casinghl', whichholds it laterally and also by means of the thrust bearings t as shown in Figure 4,` which are'mounted vin this casing l0, and also,

. springs'` causel the: return of the movable memly and yetvery movably supported peripherally 4.

and needs no centralsupport. It is made hollow andits `internal surface 5 constitutes a friction surface `whichengages with the shoes or friction members 9. The radial and thrust bearingstogether with the `four wheels e act to eliminate friction from the rotation of the wheel 4. Casing l0 also 'acts as a journalling means for the shafts of the wheels e, f and g. It will readily be seen that, as the car moves, wheel 4 ordinarily rotates with wheel W and tire'T. However, if while the wheel W is rotating the shoes 9 are brought in contact `with wheel surface 5, the variable amount of friction will cause the wheel 4 to be retarded -in its motion to a corresponding variable degree producing a difference in the rate of rotation of wheel W and 'wheel`4. In other words, the latter rotates relatively to the former, resulting in a corresponding rotation of wheels e, j and g, which in turn produces a radial movement of bar 6 together with the `quadrants 2 and their road engaging elements cl, Ia, etc. Pawls 1 engaging with `the ratchets Q act to hold the lbars in the position offtheir farthest travel. A flanged ring Ais attached by a pivot m to all pawls 1. Springs B vwhich are fastened to this ring A and to the annular member 3, act to hold the pawls in firm engagement with theratchets Q. Springs 8, fastened tothe annular member and flanges F of quadrants 2act to exert a pull centripetally on the `quadrants.` The wheel shown in Figure 1 is supposed to be rotating counterclockwise, asindicated by the arrow. It willthus be seen that barsy E may be held xedly at any point of its travel by means of the pawls 1, and any degree of Iroad engagement desired may thus be obtained. The housing'supporting the wheels e, f and y is shown at I0. The ringV A `is provided with a flanged portion .bearing a` friction surface which engages with Ithe shoeJ. ,TheV handle h which is shown mounteduponthe end of the rod L, corresponds ingeneral to the conventional means forI applying brakes on vehicles, including the old fashioned buggy The'conventional handle h and rod'L aremounted upon thecar body in any of` the well-known, conventional manners of mounting the`- `,corresponding brake rigging. Therefore* when theA lever or handle `h is pushed "backwards (to the right in Figure 1), the shoe J is forced into contact with the ring A." If `tliewheel is rotating counterclockwise and pressure is applied to J by the rod L upon which it is mounted',` friction is applied to A and it is more orlesspreventedffrom rotating, so that its rotary motion is retarded, giving a clockwise pull on the ring/A,V which in turn pulls on the pawls 1 and disengages themfrom their ratchets Q and bers bearing'the road.`eng`aging elements. `Al1 pawls 1 are released uniformly and simultaneously, dueto their being attached to ring A. Also the centripetal return of the movable members 2 etc.. is uniform, as they are all equally connected to wheels e and 4. If the car is stalled in soft, such as muddy, road, it is interesting to note that, since in such a situation the wheels rotate without the car moving, the road engaging means is applied by means of the rotating wheels without anytrouble whatever.` Thus, a stalled car in soft mud may have the road engaging means applied to theV extreme degree of travel of the bar 6 with their flanges and road engaging means Ia and I, etc.l In such case, all that is necessary is to push the handle h to the extreme left; rod L is thus moved to the left and the levers K forming a toggle Joint, force the shoes 9 with great force againsty the friction surface 5 of wheel 4 and the road engaging means are applied to the fullest extent. However, if the car starts to move before the extreme travel of the road engaging means is reached, handle h is returned to the neutral position and the degree of road engagement of the engaging means is maintained. If later found unnecessary, pressing the lever to the extreme right causes rod L, which is here shown as pro,- vided with a circular opening O to pass around the `torque `tube H, causes shoe J to engage the v road is hard, unpleasant effects would be produced. However, by simply pressing Agently on the handle h just enough friction is produced between shoes 9 and surface 5 to apply that degree of road engaging means that is best suited to the road. In such case, the cushions cl, c will come in contact with the road surface with just the right pressure for best engagement. It is important to note that in such case the resistance of the road surface to the advance of the cushions c| etc., will be greater than the retarding force produced by friction on the surface 5 by the slight pressure on the `handle h. However, in order to avoid a too sudden application of the road engaging meansto its fullest extent of travel, a stop 39 is formed in the rack which cooperates with the handle h, preventing it from moving further. Thelever h' then must be further released by actuating the catch 31 so as to permit its passage over`the stop 36, with the result that the lever may be further pushed to the left, if further application oi" the road engaging means is desirable. Shoes 9 and surface 5 are shown exaggeratedly separated for purposes of illustration. Attention is again called to the great advantage of applying a comparatively slight pressure between the shoes 9 and surface 5, whenthe road engag" ingV means, in' meeting theroad surface, is applied to the best degree of road engagement. In such case the resistance to further travel of the road engaging means againstr the road surface will cause a tight gripping of the road surface, and there will be a slipping of the surface 5 relative to the shoes 9. Thus', the road gripping means best suited to the particularroad is automatically obtained by comparatively light pressure on the In order to remove the chains, it is only necessary to stop the car and run it backwards for a short distance while the lever h. is again pressed to the left. Or, by using the apparatus described in connection with Figures 8a and 8b, they may be removed while the vcar is in motion. It is never neecssary to remove the chains with great haste in an emergency, but it is very often life saving to apply them in the fraction of a second,

as described in thepresent specification. The chains therefore may be returned to their off position by the simple procedure above described, and the ordinary tire surface is placed in engagement with the road, as the wires w are buried in the grooves in the tread surface of the tire.

Not all of the chansmay be attached and moved by the pivot N. Figure 4 illustrates the fact that the cross chains w2 may be attached 'to the elements E and also attached to a set of 'chains consisting of the ordinary wire w and road engaging elements E, but not attached to a pivot N. When the various pivots N, in their slots, move all of the wires w radially, then the wires w2 will cause another loop of wires to move radially and its elements E brought on the tread surface of the tire. To compensate for the slackness brought about by moving the wire w2 from the tread surface, slack adjusters provided with springs Sl4 are utilized, so that the wires w2 are tightened up and there is no rattle in the off position. Figure 4 shows that when the bars 6 are moved radially, the pivot N which is xedly attached to the bars 6 and the wire w, cause the latter bearing the elements E to move radially and mount the latter elements on the tire tread. Pivot N is forced radially by members, or quadrants, 2 bearing slots al which engage with pivots N. The pivot N is guided radially by the radial slots a2 in the annular member 3. It will be noted that pivot Na travelling in slot M of radial member I is fixed to the bar 6, which acts to hold pivot Na at right angles rigidly. The

other pivots N are not attached to bar l, but

may be attached toV a substitute plate bar.

In Figure 5, members l and 3 at their joining may be used as a tread and a strip of rubber or the like, n2, mounted thereon, and act as a wheel in case of a blow out, and the car brought to a garage without injury to the inner tube, tire or wheel rim, as well as avoiding a serious accident.

Figure i shows that special ridges rl may be provided in the sides of the tires, between which a groove of just the exact dimensions as i may be used to hold and guide the elements E when not on the tread surface.

Figure 4a shows a plan view of the road engaging elements E, Ea and plugs wl located on the tread surface of the tire. i is the groove w the wire, which may consist of a wire, a chain, or several strands of piano wire twisted together located in the groove. T is the tread surface of the tire. E represents a stout metal plate provided rwith-'sl'iarp yteeth or any ground gripping structure, Ea represents-a square piece of material such las that of which rubber chains are made, while wl is the plug which lls up the groove and maintains tread surface continuity and may be made of the same substance as the the same is true of the plugs wl.

tire tread and thus participate in the usual wear and accommodate itself to the diminished thickness .of the latter. Plugs wl also clear the grooves z' of dirt and the like, besides completely filling the grooves i when the elements E are in the off position. The 'plug wl may be in one long single piece instead of in short sections, as illustrated. Figure 4b is a side cross-sectional view oi Figure 4a, showing the tongue of E embedded in the groove i and 'wire w passing through it. It may not be desirable to have 'Es tongue extend to'thebottom of the tire'groove z', as when the rubber of the tread' wears, it would be lifted too-much out ofthe groove. If the tongue did4 not extend to the groove bottom, the rfiat plate like portion of' E would kalways be in firm contact with the tread surface ofthe tire regardlessof the tire wear. E may be fas'- tened to the wir'e w by means of set screws and Wirew may be provided with a slack adjusting sectionhav; ing a spring or the like, so that it'would l`always be taut around the tire. The wire w maybe provided s with collar holding elements E, Ea, and wl firmly in position thereon. I

The present day balloon tires, due to their large diameter, would permit of different types of road engaging means, i. e., a section containing liganother containing Ea and a section of plugs wl. This is illustrated in Figure 5a, wherein metal elements E are about to come into engagement on the tread surface, rubber chains vEa are inengagement, While the plugs wl have been removed from the tire tread. Thus different types of road engaging elements may be provided successively to suit the type of road surface.

If desired, a ring might be attached to the rim of the tire at its outer side and provided with pulleys or the like directly opposite the ends of the' grooves a2 in the annular member 3. This would act to brace the wires w on both sides of the tire. It is also very important that the wire w should not touch the side of the tire. This ring could be rather thin and supported by radial arms from the tire rim. A

The plugs wl of Figures 4 and 5 perform several functions: maintain continuity of the tread surface when the chains are in the olf position, keep the slots I clear of dirt, etc., keep up the tautness of the wire w when the elements E are in the off position. As they are not always in position in the grooves i (when the chains are in the off position) they will not be subjected to the same wear as the tire surface and may be a little more prominent than the tire tread and thus act as tire chains, that is of the so-called rubber type.

The portion of the element E shown in the groove I in Figure 4b may not be made of metal; it might be of the same material as rubber chains. It should not reach the bottom of the groove i in a brand new tire, in order to compensate for tire wear.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 represent another modification of the invention. However, Figure 8 will serve also as a representation of much of the modification disclosed in Figures 1 and 2. The handle h, Figure 6, pushed to the left, causes a similar movement of rod L, which also moves lever o. The latter lever is journalle'd in backing plate hub P, and passes through the hub.v and is then bent peripherally, whence it is connected with the friction band u, which latter passes around the hub of the wheel 4 and is in turn fastened in the backing plate P by rivet z. The lever tightens the band around the hub ofthe wheel 4, and retards or stops its motion, as previously described. VHowever, Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a difference be tween wheel 4 and that previously described and illustrated, in that it is mounted upon the surface of the brake drum D and is freely movable thereon, using if desired, ball bearings for this purpose, as illustrated at q in Figure 10. Wheel 4 meshes with wheel y mounted on shaft b, whose end is squared, and which projects through an opening in the wheel W, or between its spokes. This squared end may be operated by means of a wrench as previously described, for instance, if the car is stalled and the wheels for one reason or another, not rotating. Turning of shaft b causes all of the road engaging means to be applied by the energy of the operator. Wheel e is also mounted on shaft b. Wheel e meshes with and drives rack on bar 6 and moves it together with quadrants 2 peripherally, as already described.

The same cup C and radial arm Vl construction is used as before. Quadrants 2 are provided with slots a in which travel the guides G, as the quadrants move peripherally and centrally. The quadrants are also provided with lugsy 1p, which pass through slots a2 in member 3,. These lugs are vfastenedto the bars 6 and the latter are also secured by the screws sto the flange F. Springs 8 are attached to the member 3 and the quadrants 2 and act to return them centrally when the pawls 'l are released. The latter is brought about by pushing level handle h to the right when shoe J comes in contact with the flanged ring A, thus retarding its rotation sufciently to vmove it against the springs B and releasing pawls 1 from engagement with the ratchets Q, as previously described. It will be noted that ring A is fastened to pawls l by pivots m. The main difference between this modification and that of Figures 1 and 2-is that the hollow wheel W is mounted on 'the external surface of the brake drum D and a friction band u encircles the hub-like hollow extension of wheel 4.

Figure 8 illustrates the outer aspect of the road engaging means with the wheel applied but partially broken away, the broken line T represents the periphery of the removed tire, While W represents a portion of the Wheel disk which has been largely broken away. S is the shaft. D is the drum. The bolts lc fasten the wheel disk W t the brake drum in the conventional manner, while the cup-like center C of the road engaging means is bolted by means of bolts 7' tothe seat formed in the drum D underneath the wheel W. The squared ends of the shafts b, for engagement with wrenches o, are shown through openings in the wheel W. The guides G formed on'the radial arms I are shown passing into the slots in quadrants 2 and fastened on the opposite side by the Cotter pin, or the like Z. When the wheel W is mounted, the road engaging means cannot be seen, as indicated by the broken line T. The quadrants 2 are shown in the off position. The manner of forming guides 38 in the body of 2 is very important, as they further guide the quadrants 2 with kgreat precision to and fro radially. The annular member 3 is shown on the opposite side of the quadrants ,2. The quadrants are seen to be grasped firmly between radial members I and annular member 2. The annular member 3 acts to distribute. the. pressure uniformly :around the periphery of the road engaging means vand wheel. The flanges of the. quadrants `2 yare shown provided with rubber cushions c and the metal paddles I provided with teeth, as better illustrated in the lower portion of Figure 7. The paddles may bev supported -by the braces d.

The friction between surfaces 5 and Sis directly opposed to the resistance of the road Ysurface to the peripheral travel of bar 6 and the road engaging means c, etc. When the rubber chain c comes into contact with Aa concrete surface, .it is met with great resistance. If great :pressure is maintained against surface 5 by means 0f 9, the rubber chain becomes compressed and the teeth of the metal road engaging element I come into engagement with the road surface, for instance if the concrete is coated with ice. Further pressure would cause the wheel to be raised off and free of the road surface. In other words, there is. a balance between the opposed forces consisting on the one hand of the friction between 9 and 5, causing the road engaging element to press against the road surface, and on the other hand of the resistance of the road bed. If the proper degree of friction is maintained, the teeth will engage with the road surface, after the cushions c have been found inadequate. If the road is soft,l moderate friction between 9 and 5 causes a further travel peripherally .by the road engaging element unresisted into the soft earth or snow until sufhcient resistance is encountered to ,cause the road engaging element to effectively engage and the car moves forward. This is equally true if the car is standing perfectly still with the road engaging means in ineffective engagement and the wheels rotating. Further pressure on the handle h. causes the friction to be maintained until the ineectively rotating wheels engage as the road engaging means travel rperipherally. Thus, the most suitable type of road engaging means is effectively applied.

Although it was stated in connection with vFigures 4 and 5, that it was not vitally necessary to remove the road engaging means while the car was in motion, grave emergencies, however, may be avoided by applying the road engaging means while the car lis. in motion. Although no means of removingv the engaging means was illustrated in connection with Figures 4 and 5, it being only necessary to stop the car off the road and run it backwards while pressure was applied between 5 and 9, means for removing this type of road engaging means while the car `moves will be described. For instance, in Figure 4, teeth may be provided on the extending flange of wheel 4, which engages with a gear wheel on the car body and. operated by a motor or the car engine. This will cause wheel 4 to rotate in the opposite direction either while the car is standing or moving. In the latter case, the excess of speed of the wheel on the vcar body over that of the moving wheel, will cause the wheel 4 to rotate and remove the chains to the off position.

No road engaging means is illustrated in Figures 8a. and 8b for the reason that not only the road engaging means E, Ea of Figure 4 may be used, but also other road engaging means. Also, the apparatus of Figures 8a. and 8b perform the function of release of the road engaging means. Therefore, ring A, shoe J, pawls 1, and ratchets Q might be dispensed with.

In Figures 8a and 8b, S is the shaft, H the torque tube,l P the backing plate, D the drum and C the cup-.like portion of the road engaging supf Aammazza shoes 9 against surface 5 of wheel 4, retarding its v motion while the Wheel W rotates, .as already described. To release the road engaging means, from road engagement, rod L is pushed to the right, releasing friction between Sand 9, causing cam OI which is provided with a wedged shape or inclined plane on its under side in the drawings, to push in on wheels =fl and e2, bringing wheel e2 into gear with wheel 4b on the internal surface of wheel 4 and external to the friction surface 5, the two (Wheel 4b and surface 5) being `juxtaposed. This action also brings wheels f2 and f3 to the right in Figure 8b, and f3 is brought into gear with wheel f4 attached to the surface of the brake drum D. Wheels fl, collars f2 and f3 are xedly mounted upon the same shaft. This shaft is journalled in the plate P and also in the bracket Ba. The cam OI is mounted upon a rod which is shown sliding lin guide O2. The inclined surface ofthe cam Ol forces wheels e2, fl, and f3 to the right'iFigure 8b), causing wheel f3 to engage with wheel f4 mounted on the inner surface of the drum D. This causes the rotating drum Dto rotate wheels V4, f3,.f|, e2, 4b and 4, the latter in a direction in reverse to that accomplished by the action of elements S-and 5. The relative diameters of the wheels just mentioned is such as to cause wheel '4 to rotate backward or inA reverse to the forward motion of the car wheel W. The chains or other road engaging means are removed, due to the fact that the bar` 6 is moved centrally. Wheels fl and f3 are normally held out of engagement with wheels e2 and f4 respectively by the action of the spring (not shown) located between the collar f2 ('xedly mounted on the same shaft with wheels fl and lf3) and the bracket Ba. It will be noted that wheel f4 is of large diameter compared to that of wheel f3 and will rotate many times faster. Friction wheels may be substituted for those and others described in the present specification if desired. Thus when the full limit of travel of pivot N (see Figs. 4 and 5) is reached there would be a slipping of the friction gear wheels.

Shoes 9 by a left hand motion of rod L cause wheel 4 to be retarded while wheel W rotates, while a. right hand movement of rod L causes Wheel 4 to move in the same direction as the here forms one piece with the wheel body. H014 low gear wheel 4 is mounted upon the drum Da. Ball or roller bearings q may be placed between the Wheel 4 and the drum Dd. The plate P is shown as mostly broken away in order to expose the various elements forming the road engaging supporting means. The lever I is pivoted by 'pivot l la to the plate P, and is fastened by a pin to the band u. The other end of the band u passes aroundthe hub or extension of wheel 4 and is fastened by `pin z `to the plate P. The

the slot shown in plate P. Pushing the handle h to the left causes rod L to move to the left and moves lever l which acts to tighten theband pin which fastens band u to lever Z passes through u on the flanged hubof wheel 4 kand retard its motion when wheel W is rotating. The result is that wheel 4 causes wheels y and e to rotate, as they are mountedupon the same shaft. Wheel e causes bar 6 to move radially against the action of the powerful springs- 8, while pawls 'i in engagement with the ratchets on bars 6, hold the latter in the position of farthest radial travel. Thus quadrants 2 with their ilanges F bearing road engaging means are applied to engagement Vwith the road surface. Rod L is rotatably mounted. Therefore, by turning handle outward to the observer in thedrawings, shoe J is pressed against the ring A, which is thus retarded in its motion causing it to move against the action of springs B and to release pawls 1, to which it is pivoted, from engagement with their corresponding ratchets,'when springs 8 pull the quadrants and their road engaging means centrally. All pawls arere leased simultaneously, and all quadrants return uniformly as they arel all geared to wheel 4. Cushions n are provided between the quadrants in order that they may return noiselessly and that they will not produce a rattle when in the off position and vthe car is in'moton. A suitable casing, such as Y, protects the various gears fromlmud and water. Those figures illustrate the fact that the road engaging means may be provided with a separate flange Fa from the quadrant. The flange is shown as being provided with teeth I. Different flanges bearing different types of road engaging means may be removed and applied at will. Additional paddles are shown at X, which are placed internally to the flanges, and will readily engage in deep mud and the like. Guides, G and Ga are shown mounted upon the wheelbody and rim and engaging with the slots a in quadrants 2. Those guides are provided with flanges as` shown at Gb, which hold the quadrants in place. Pawls 1 are directly mounted upon the wheel body. The wrench o intended for engagement with shaft b and shaft b1 (Figure 11) for manually applying and removing the road engaging means is illustrated in Figure 10. Figures 9 and 10 show the road engaging means in road engagement position, the periphery of the tire is shown at T. The casing Y, besides serving to keep out mud and water, etc., also serves to provide guiding support forv the bars 6 in the form of an opening just suillcient to accommodate the bar, as shown in the upper portion of the drawing of Figure 10 at Y, the openings acting yas a guide.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate another modification in which the road engaging means is attached to a specially formed seat in the brake drum, as described in the earlier portions of this specification. Figure 11 represents the outer aspect of the road engaging means with the wheel entirely removed, i. e., dismounted. S is the shaft; lc are the bolts from which the wheel has been dismounted. The disk like portion of the road engaging means is'illustrated at CI. The bolts holding this to the seat in the drum are shown at y. The drum D which is on the opposite side of C I is shown in dotted lines, as is also the Wheel 4. The mountingof wheels e and. y on the squared 'end shafts b is clearly shown, The squared ends of the pivots b1, for manual release of the road engaging means, are shown. The quadrants 2 are alsoshown as braced together by the links :t and the'hinged links xl, in order to distribute the pressure throughout the entire periphery of the road engaging means. n: is in thezform of aldouble headed rod. which slides in holes the:'quatlrants,2,y while-.xt censists or nated by la. Figure; 12 clearly shows the' body.

of the road engaging. means at la" as vbeing closely adjacent the wheel body or diskv W. The re movable fiange and special road-engagement element is shown at Fa, Figure 12.- The lever l is attached, as already described, to the` band u', however, this attachment' is not'shown in Figure 12. Figure 13 shows the ordinaryv drum and wheel disk with the road engaging' means en-I tirely removed, the seat f'or thel latter is sh'o'wn at S2. The wheel W is shown as fastened by the bolts lc to the drum over and above the seatvS2. The backing plate is illustrated` at P.- 'S is4 th'e shaft' and H is: the corresponding shaft' torque tube.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a'- modiiication of the invention in which an auxiliary tire is utilized, bearing special road engagingmeans on its tread, either on the same shaft or onthe same rim as the regular wheelV and tire. Everyone isfamiliar with the great destruction of life due' to so-called blow outs of tires. Thisl is due to' thef-act that the diameter ofthe tire suddenly reduces from that of fullv inflation to absolutefdeflationl, with a consequent turning of th'e wheels towardA the' side of the road and theupsetting'of, or the crashf ing of the car with external' objects. The regun lar tire is shown at T, and in the ofl-4 positionof the road engaging means, ,itis-of larger diameter than the auxiliary tire T2, due tothe deflationv of the latter. The mechanism for actuating the wheel 4 is the same as that already described in previous figures. Rod' L, through links K force the shoes 9 against the friction surfaceA 5v of wheel l". Wheel-4 is supported, asalready describedby' the wheels e, el, etc.' S is the shaft, while-His its torque tube, and O is the hinged circle, which passes' around the tube'.H,.formed' in rod L. The rim of the regular tire is shown at R, while that of the auxiliary tire or wheel is shown at RI. The brake drum is' shown at D and the backing plate at P. As wheel 4 is retarded in its' motion, it causes wheel el to rotate. A n air' pump 20- is attached to this wheel an'dis operated by the ro'- tation of this wheel el to inflate tire T2 as shown by the usual connection.. Thus tir'ev '132v is brought up to the same or greater iniiation-alfdiameter than tire T and thespecial road engaging means on its surface is brought into r'oad engagement. Obviously, the greater the speed' at which the' car is moving, the greater the' spee'd of inationof the' auxiliary tire that is possible. The rate of inflation may be regulated by' the amount of pressure brought uponl the frictionsuiface by shoes 9. Pump' 20 is'clearlyl shown as connected to tire T2, similar to ordinary tire purn'ps. Thus' the special road engaging means, which may' not have' along life is used only whennecessary, and the regular tireused alone. For instance; special tire surfaces are madeof ne' vanes, which grip especially wet concrete roads, and such are' not subjected to constant wear with the present invention, but are only in use' when n'eeded.- .I'he auxiliary tires may also be'lp'rov'ided with' reg'J ulai' chains,.andonly iniiatedlwifienmeeded; This saves the breaking. of chains through wear von concrete and otr-ierhardV roads when not covered with snow or ice. The auxiliary tire may also be provided with the very special largev ridges as used on the well known ground grip tires. These are therefore, used only when needed, and are saved useless wear. Also such heavy ridged tires give great vibration on hard roads, such as clean concrete roads, even giving the same sensation as that given by iiat tires.

Counterpoises may of course be provided 0D- posite pumps 2B, or the two pumps might be, if usedr on the same car, counterpoised against each other, as'n shown in Figure 14.

To deflate the auxiliary tire and thus remove the road engaging means from the' position of road engagement, the rod L is pushed to the right whenv shoe J on the end of the rod comes in to contact with ring Ais friction surface, and retards its rotation if the car is in motion. The ring is provided with a cam 22, which comes thus in Contact with the valve stem i12 and pushes it inwards, causing the escape of the air and consequent'deflation. The ring AI is provided with a series of slots a3 in which the pins ml travel while the ring Al moves against the action of the springs B, which normally hold the cam 22- out of engagement with valve stem p2.- Two sections of the ring' AI are shown at the rightand left ofV Figure 14. It will be noted that wheels e are used merely to support the wheel 4.

It has been stated above that pump 2li may be used to inflate the regular tire T while the car is inmotion, by simply connecting it to the tire by a screw joint, for instance. The apparatus just described is shown mostly in cross section in Figure 15. The relative' diameters of tires T and T2 are shown for purposes of clearness. It will be seenthat-tire T2 is not in road engagement in this figure, and is saved unnecessary wear. It is well known that chains, for instance, doI not wear out nearly so quickly when in contact with soft, or dirt or snow covered roads. Their wear is exceedingly rapid on clean concrete and similar surfaces. In winter it is frequently necessary for a person to travel, during various journeys, over many alternate sectionsy of clean, and snow and ice covered roads. The chains must be kept on the tires, otherwise they cannot travel through snowy sections, and thev ordinary chainI is` too cumbersome and takes too much time and ef fort to remove at say half hour intervals. With the present invention, the chains may be ref moved andapplied several times in one minutel and while the car is in motion.

Figure 15' also shows the two tires T and T2 mounted upon the same wheel W by means ofa" two-element rim R and RI.- Ii the regular tire T should blow out while the car is travelling at' high speed, then T2, which is somewhatsofter' and of consequent smaller diameter. even thoughf not in road engaging inflation, would a'ct to pre--y vent the car from swerving off the ro'ad-.

In another modification, tire T2 is mounted upon a separate wheel, which latter is mounted upon the shaft S, or its disk-portion may b Attention is particularly called to thesimplicit and great utility of the type of road engaging supporting and. releasing and rapplying means illustrated. in Figures 1, 2. 3, 4, 8a, 8b. 14 and 15; Referring. to Figure 2, it is readily seenhow easily the hollow surface 5 of wheel 4 isv slipped opposite the4 periphery of' thev backingl plate' P,

,lutely free of contact with the tires.

shown in Figure 1.

while the bolts j fasten its-cup-like member C to the seat in the brake drum. The two shoes S :are then attached lto the plate P by means of the two bolts shown at their right extremities `in Figure l. The rods or links K are then attached to 9, and the wheel W is then mounted 4the radial members may` iit against the tires,

still this is not absolutely necessary,` and `it may even be objectionable. They may even be-abso- Even in the modification in Figures 4 and 5 they mayfbe held by or supported by the pulleys Vand pivot `N and an additional group onpulleys supported by rim R andr directly opposite the ends of 5 the slits in the annular members 3 and l, and the vwires wlyand the chain contact elements E held gfifeeiofjthentire except at the tread surface.4

Whenthe car is stalled in soft mud,` or the .engaging-means by rotatingr the wheels, asi-a `iii'frn-foot hold may not thus be possible. In such case the road engaging means may be applied in roadengagement by applying the wrench o toany one Vof the shafts 4 `(squared ends) and causing the road engaging means to come into road engagement while the `wheel is stationary, and thus get a very firm footing.

i The handle h is of course, at the drivers seat. The rods L may be connected by a cross rod Le,

and a single rod Lg connecting the cross rod` and the handle h at the drivers seat, somewhat It may pass through supporting 4guides La, Lb andLc; as The `holes shown in those guides accommodate screws or bolts,.which-fasten them to the car body. Shoe J is carried on the end of the rod L and makes frictionalcontact With the ring A. Those elements are also illus- M trated in-Figure 3A, in which Bd represents the carbody to which the supporting guides are at- `tached` by suitable screws or bolts, etc. Also cross rod -Le is xedly attached to the usual lever Lf. f

` Having describedmy invention, I claim as new `anddesire to secure byaLetters Patent: L

1. Airoad engaging apparatus consisting of `a rotatable member, an auxiliary road engaging means mounted independently of and immediatelyojuxtaposedto said rotatable member and means for making occasional contactat will with said auxiliary road engagingmeans while said auxiliary road engaging means rotates in order to expand `the periphery of said auxiliary road engaging means to any desired xed degreeiof expansion in order to bring said auxiliary road engaging means into uniform road engagement. i

A road engaging apparatusV consisting of a .rotatable member including a brake drum, an `auxiliary road engaging means detachably mounted solely upon said brake drum. andmeans Vfor making occasional contact at will with said auxiliary yroad engaging meansA while saidauxiliai-y1 road engaging means rotates in order to expand the `periphery of said auxiliary road engaging means to any desired ilxed degreeof expansion in order to bring said auxiliary road engaging means into uniform road engagement.

ately juxtaposed to said rotatable member and means for bringing said auxiliary road engaging means into road engagement including a hollow gear wheel vand friction members in cooperative relation with the hollow surface of said wheel.

4. A road engaging apparatus consisting of a rotatable member, an auxiliary road engaging means, mounted independently of and immediately juxtaposed to said rotatable member means for vmaking occasional contact at will with said auxiliary road engaging means while said auxiliary road engaging means rotates in order to expand the Vperiphery ofsaid auxiliary road engaging means to any desired xed degree of expansionin'orderpto bring said auxiliary road engaging means into uniform road engagement and means for releasing said auxiliary road engaging means fromiroadgengagement." if

1 5.- Al road Vengagingapparatus consisting of a rotatable member including a` tire and a plurality of grooves in saidtire, an auxiliary road engaging means encircling vsaid tire and in cooperative relation With said vgrooves and means for bringingsaid road engaging apparatus .intol road-engagement.

6. A road engaging apparatus consisting o'f a rotatable' member including a tire and a plurality of grooves in said'tire, an auxiliary road engaging means including a flexible member travelling in said grooves, aplurality of road engaging elements borne on a portion of said iiexible member and means for moving saidflexible member to bring said road engagingelements into road engagementv upon said grooves.

7l A road engaging apparatus consisting of a rotatable member, an auxiliary road vengaging means mounted beside said rotatable member and means for making occasional contact at will with said auxiliary road engaging 'means while said auxiliary road engaging means rotates in order to expand the periphery of said auxiliary road engaging means to any desired fixed degree of expansion in order to bring said auxiliary road engaging means into road engagement, said means for bringing into engagement including a hollow gear Wheel and a friction member in cooperative relation with said hollow gear wheel.

48. Alroad engaging apparatus consisting of a rotatable member including a tire and a plurality of grooves in said tire, an auxiliary road engaging means `encircling said tire and in cooperative relation with said grooves, means for bringing said road engaging means into road engagement and means for releasing said auxiliary Vroad engaging means from road engagement.

`means mounted independently of and immediately juxtaposed to said rotatable member and stationary means for making occasional contact at will with said auxiliary road engaging means while said auxiliary road engaging means rotates `rotatable member, Van auxiliary road engaging means, means for 'bringing said auxiliary road engaging vmeans into road engagement including .a plurality of gear Wheels, a hollow gear Wheel supported by and in cooperative rlation with saidgear Wheels, the internal-surface o'f said gear wheel being a friction surface Vvand a stationary 'friction means in vcooperative relation'with said 'friction surface, and means for'main'tain'ing 'said v auxiliary road cngagingmeans in :road yengagement.

12. A road engaging apparatus consisting of a rotatable member, an lauxiliary road engaging means including a'movable member, means for bringing said auxiliary road engaging means into ro-ad engagement including a plurality of racks attached to said movable =member,'a Vplurality `of pinions 'in engagement with said racks, alarge gear Wheel engaging said pinions,` -a friction surface borne on vsaid large `gear Wheel and a stationary friction `element engageable with said friction surface to make retarding contact therewith.

13. A road engaging-apparatus consisting of a rotatablemember, an auxiliary road engaging means, means for bringings'aid auxiliary road engaging means-into road engagement and means for releasing said auxiliary road engaging-means from road engagement said means `for releasing including a plurality `of `pawls a 'friction 'band flexibly connected Ato said Vp21-Wis and a. -friction shoe in cooperative relation with said friction -Aband andmounted independently of saidrotatable member and said auxiliary road lvengaging means.

14. A road engaging vapparatus consisting of a rotatable member, an auxiliary road engaging means, `.means for bringing said road engaging vmeans into road engagement and means for maintaining said auxiliary road engaging means in road Vengagement including a plurality o straight ratchets, a plurality of pawls engaging With said ratchets, a ring attached to said pawls and a plurality of springs attached to said ring to insure uniform engagement of said -`pawls -With said ratchets.

15. A road engaging apparatus vconsisting of a `rotatable member, an auxiliary road engaging means, `mea-ns for bringing said road engaging means into road engagement and means yfor maintaining said auxiliary road engaging means in road .engagement including a plurality of straight ratchets, a plurality .of pa-Wls engaging with said ratchets, and means for uniformlyreleasing said pawls from said ratchets.

16. A road engaging apparatus consisting lof a rotatable member, an auxiliary -road engaging means, and means for bringing said auxiliary road engaging means into road engagement vincluding a wrench-engageable element adjacent'to ycluding a wrench engageable shaft accessible through said rotatable 'member Yand means for bringing said auxiliary road engaging means -into 'road engagement 'while said auxiliary road engaging means rotates. y

'-1'8. Aroad 'engaging apparatus consisting 'o'f a rotatable member, an auxiliary road engaging means, means "for'bringing said auxiliary road engaging means into'road `engagement whilesaid auxiliary roadengaging means is stationary including a 'wrench-engageable shaft, and means 'for'bringingsa'id auxiliary road engaging means into road engagement while said auxiliary road engaging means rotates, and means for releasing -fs'aid 'auxiliary lroad engaging Imeans from road engagement while -said auxiliary road 'engaging kmeans rotates.

r19. A road engaging apparatus 'consisting-of a rotatable-member including a Vbrake drum, rape- 'ripheral uniformly expandable auxiliary road engaging means, said auxiliary road engaging means 7being detachably mounted upon the disk portion means into road engagement.

T21. A `road engaging apparatus consisting of a rotatable -member including arbrake drum, and a 'uniformly 'expandable auxiliary road engaging means, `said 'auxiliary road engaging 'means being detachably and iixedly mounted upon the disk portion 'of said 'brake drum and independently mounted 'of said rotatable member.

`l22. A road engaging'apparatus'consisting of a rotatable member including 'a "brake drum, a uniformlyfexpandable auxiliary'road engaging means, said'auxiliary 'roadengaging means being detachably and iixedly mounted upon the rdisk portion of said fbrake drum independently of said rotatable member and means for uniformly expanding said auxiliary road engaging means in order to bring ysaid vexpandable road engaging means 'into uniform road engagement.

'23. A road engagingapparatus consisting of a rotatable member, "an auxiliary road engaging means mounted juxtaposed to said rotatable member and including an expandable peripheral rim, a plurality of toothed metal plates mounted 'upon saidrim and a plurality of resilient road engaging ymembers 'mounted upon and extend- "ing peripherally beyond the ends of said metal plates.

2.21. A road feng'aglng apparatus consisting of a rotatable member, an Aauxiliary road engaging means,including an expandable peripheraly rim, a plurality lof .toothed metal plates mounted upon Ysaid peripheral rim, `a plurality of resilient road engaging members mounted upon and extending beyond'the ends of said metal plates and means for rexpanding said -peripheral rim in order to bring said :resilient road engaging' members into road engagement lbefore said metal plates.

l25. 'A road engaging lapparatus comprising `a rotatable ro'ad-engaging-wheel supporting member, 'a wheel mounted upon :said member and 'an auxiliary "road 'engaging means separatelyv detachably andindependently mounted upon said rotatable supporting member, said auxiliary road engaging means not making any contact with said Wheel.

26. A road engaging apparatus comprising a rotatable member, an auxiliary road engaging means, means for bringing said auxiliary road engaging means into road engagement including a plurality'of gear wheels, a hollow gear wheel supported by and in cooperative relation with said gear wheels, the internal surface of said hollow gear wheel being a friction surface and a stationary friction means in cooperative relation with said friction surface.

27. A road engaging apparatus comprising a rotatable member, an auxiliary road engaging means including an expansible peripheral rim, a plurality of teeth mounted upon said periphery, a plurality of 'slotted anges bearing resilient road 'engaging elements, said teeth projecting through the slots of said slotted member, a plurality of springs normally separating said flanges from said peripheral rim, and means for expanding said expansible peripheral rim in order to bring said resilient road engaging elements and said teeth successively into road engagement.

28. A road engaging apparatus comprising a rotatable member, a brake drum in cooperative relation with said rotatable member, an auX- iliary road engaging means mounted beside said rotatable member, and means for making occasional contact at will with said auxiliary road engaging means while said auxiliary road engaging means rotates and thereby expand the periphery of said auxiliary road engaging means to any desired fixed degree of expansion and bring said auxiliary road engaging means into vroad engagement, said means for bringing into engagement including a hollow gear wheel rotatably encircling said brake drum and a stationary friction member in cooperative relation with said hollow gear Wheel.

ALOYSIUS J. CAWLEY. 

